All of them fall within park areas and is thus taken care by SANPARKS.   I will start from the western side and travel in an easterly direction to reveal them to you.

WOODVILLE

This is an 800 year old tree that stands 31 m tall.  Follow the Seven Passes road from Hoekwil leading towards the mountains and the signage will indicate where to turn left.  The tree is just 80 m down the trail. 

There is a picnic spot with braai facilities and toilets at the start of the trail. 

Type:  Outeniqua Yellowwood

Entry fee:  yes

Permit:  self-issue type

Walking trail:  +- 2 km (easy) with water crossing

Coordinates:  S33°56.8232  E022°38’42.1944

DALENE MATTHEE

This one stands proudly next to the memorial of the famous forest writer Dalene Matthee at Krisjan-se-Nek.  It is estimated that this tree is about 880 years old with a height of 40 m.  This is also the tallest one of them all.

Type:  Outeniqua Yellowwood

Entry fee:  yes

Permit:  self-issue type

Walking trail:  3 km circular route (moderate)

Coordinates:  S33°57.003  E023°57.469

To know more follow the link to Dalene Matthee

KING EDWARD VII

This tree was first know as Templeman’s tree and later renamed to King Edward VII after the king visited the tree and was treated with lunch in the shade of it in 1924.   It is estimated to be around 650 years old. Follow the gravel road from Knysna via Avontuur to Uniondale to reach the tree.

Type: Outeniqua Yellowwood

Entry fee: yes

Permit: self-issue type

Walking trail: yes

Coordinates: S33°57.350  E023°09.247

TSITSIKAMMA

This tree can be reached directly from the N2.  Just past the village of Stormsrivier you will get the sign board where to turn off and park for this one.  There is a small cafeteria at the start of the trail selling some refreshments.  Follow the trail to the giant amongst the giants. The top reaches 36 m into the sky.

Type:  Outeniqua Yellowwood

Entry fee:  yes

Permit:  self-issue type

Walking trail:  on wooden boardwalk (500 m)

Coordinates:  S33°57.882  E023°53.968

Visiting the big trees is an ideal alternative activity for cloudy days in the Garden Route when the weather is not up to scratch. Please, respect them all, because there are not a lot of them left.

oOo

Time spent amongst trees are never wasted time (Katrina Mayer)

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Instead, I am taking you to a big tree in the forest aptly named “Big Tree”.  I left the home base a bit earlier to give myself time to stop in the heart of the Tsitsikamma.  The big trees of our native forests are not as big as the massive Red Woods that you find in the United States, but they stand tall to reach the rays of sunlight.  

 The Outeniqua Yellowwood tree is South Africa’s national tree which makes this particular big tree even more special.  Its age is estimated at 1 000 years.  Getting to the Big Tree is easy.  Driving in an easterly direction you will see the sign on your left-hand side just before the Total garage at Stormsrivier.  There is a big safe parking lot where you can leave your car and take a walk. After paying your entrance fee (R21) it is an easy 10-minute walk into the forest along a boardwalk to the tree. 

Walking along you will feel, see and smell the forest.  Some trees along the route are identified and marked for easy identification.  Also be on the lookout for some mushrooms that will bloom in the foliage.    Remember that you are in a national park and no picking and removing of any plant material is allowed.  At the end of the walkway this queen will show herself.  Thankfully she was spared the woodcutter’s axes during the turn of the century.

This tree stands 36,6 m tall and has a trunk circumference of 9 m and will take about 12 people to form a circle around her base.  From the tree there are two additional trails covering 2,6 km and 4,2 km for those who would like to get in touch with the forest a little bit more. 

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Situated along the N2 highway halfway between Port Elizabeth and George in the beautiful Tsitsikamma area in South Africa, lies a place that offers you a chance to discover your inner child again.  You can find Tsitsikamma Adventure Land next to Tsitsikamma Gardens, 9km from the Storms River petrol station towards Port Elizabeth.

Upon arrival you are greeted with friendly faces and the wooden office already gives you a sense of what lies ahead.  As you walk into the office to do your paperwork, it feels like you are walking into a forest hut nestled in the Tsitsikamma Forest.  A 5min admin break is necessary before you are assigned and introduced to your guide who will lead you to your transport for the day.

Do not fear if you are not an experienced quad bike rider and do not think that if you are a motorbike rider that you know everything. Everyone is treated equally here.  Safety is extremely imported to the guys at Tsitsikamma Adventure Land and the pre-ride briefing is done thoroughly to ensure that you are comfortable and understand all the signs.

With the briefing done and the backpack with water secured to the quad bike the guide, with his guitar, jumps on and leads the way.  As you drive through farmland, all worries fade away when you realize this is going to be an enjoyable adventure ride and not a fast paced, extreme ride that is out of your comfort zone.  By the time you enter the pine plantations, you are at ease and the riding starts to come naturally as the guide looks over his shoulder every few minutes to make sure all the ducks are still in one row!

Soon you find yourself riding like a natural, taking so many photos through the plantations and indigenous forests that your phone starts to run out of space.  If you own a good camera, be sure to bring it along as you every so often stop off at the most picturesque spots and photo opportunities are plenty.  You wind through big pine trees in the plantation before following a stream with clear cool water into the lush green indigenous forest and stopping off at sandstone formations, lily ponds and low-water bridges where you take your time to grasp the beauty and adventure the Tsitsikamma has to offer.

The guides have a vast knowledge of the area as they are locals and they are so approachable that you never feel uncomfortable asking questions.  You might even be lucky and be serenaded in the forest by one of them while having a drinks break.  Surrounded by the indigenous forest, you soon forget that you are on an adventure, seeking some adrenaline! The quad bikes are well looked after and serviced before every ride.  They are big bikes with small engines, so you will not find yourself in a situation that you will be losing control of the machine halfway on the route.  The route is an easy one.  It follows the tracks through the timber plantations with one or two up and down hills where you will be given the opportunity to play a bit, depending on your skills!

The ride itself is a 2 hour ride through a 16km route with numerous stops.  This can only be done by booking a time slot with the Tsitsikamma Adventure Land office.  No access will be granted to private persons wanting to the explore on their own.  The costs are R590 per person, if you are brave enough to drive the quad bike on your own and R250 per pillion, if you would rather settle for a backseat and take the opportunity to ride with someone and that you can enjoy the scenery.

Whether you are a local or a tourist, this should definitely be on your to-do list.  Ours has been ticked off, but I am tempted to put it back on the list, because I would do this over and over again.  Here you will make memories that will last forever.  A must do for the whole family, young and old!  So pack your comfortable clothing and closed shoes, your sunscreen and camera and find them at S 33° 58.981 E 024° 01.823.

Contact their office on +27 (44) 280 3000/74 or info@mistysa.co.za to book your time slot now.

** For more information and some more pictures of our Tsitsikamma Adventure Land visit, have a look at our Facebook Page

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If you start at the restaurant/shop follow the 900 metre wooden walk under the indigenous tree canopy to the mouth.  It is a fairly easy walk, but when reaching the end of the walkway you will need to descend some steep steps into the gorge to get to the bridge ……. just remember you have to return the same way …… so if the knees are not in that brilliant state anymore take note!

After you crossed the 77 metre long bridge that hangs just seven metres above the river one arrives at a small pebbled cove which is protected from the elements and is a nice place to rest your feet before the return trip.

The original bridge was built in 1969, but was later replaced with a newer version and has become a popular place for love locks.  I always wonder how many locks the authorities will allow on the bridge before it becomes too heavy and unsafe to allow more locks to be added to the bridge.   Compared to some famous love lock bridges of the world such as   Pontes de Art Bridge, Paris; Hohenzollern Bridge, Cologne and Mala Sterna, Prague, our own bridge at Storms River is still at the beginning of its life cycle.  If you feel like it, hook yours onto the side and go and check it out again in a couple of years’ time.

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